This paper will outline the approach adopted under the GEF/UNEP/UNU Sustainable Land Management Project (PALM) to address the gaps and constraints within the enabling legal, policy, and institutional environment at the regional, national and local government levels, through the development of an integrated trans-boundary strategic planning and regulatory framework. It will outline the process used to review existing national laws and regulations against the requirements for sustainable land management and ecosystem protection within the High Pamir and Pamir-Alai Mountains. Various gaps, conflicts and overlaps in existing legislation have been identified. It will describe the process adopted to improve the enabling legal and regulatory framework at the trans-boundary, national and local levels. In particular, the paper will outline the participative regional natural resource management governance framework, including the national laws and institutions to implement a new trans-boundary law for sustainable management of the high altitude mountain region, and its transferability to other similar regions of the world.